Grilled Asian Chicken with Peanut Noodles and Cucumber Sambal

If you make one new recipe this week, for all that is lovely and good and wonderful, let this be it.

I can’t get enough of this meal. For as many recipes as I have waiting in the wings to try, it’s unusual for me to make the same meal twice in a two week period just because I loved it so much. This recipe makes the short list of meals that haunted me until I made them again.

Don’t even think about making this without the cucumber sambal. You load your fork up with a bite of juicy chicken, peanut noodles and tartly flavored cucumbers and I swear to you, it’s complete and pure heaven. The flavors are totally out of this world – the perfect amount of spiciness and sweetness and tanginess.

You know those meals you could eat over and over and over again and still probably be tempted to make tomorrow? Yep, this is that meal for me. The bonus is that it comes together in 30 minutes or less (especially if the cucumber sambal is made ahead of time, but even if not, it’s a speedy meal) and is a fabulous light and healthy option for the warm months ahead.

The cucumber sambal can be made a couple hours (if not a day or so) in advance and kept covered in the refrigerator which can save time during dinner prep. Also, if you are confused about what exactly chili garlic sauce is, it is widely available near the other Asian ingredients - similar to sriracha sauce but a bit different in flavor and texture. I use the Huy Fong brand (MSG-free) and usually buy it on Amazon since my itty bitty grocery store in town is one of the few that don't carry it. It does pack a bit of heat so go easy on it if you are lowering the spiciness of the dish (you can always add more later if you need an extra kick).

Ingredients

Cucumber Sambal:

1 cup seeded and diced cucumbers

1/2 cup thinly chopped green onions, white and green parts

1/2 cup small diced red pepper

3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, more or less to taste

1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Grilled Chicken and Noodles:

3 tablespoons brown sugar, divided (you'll use some for the chicken, some for the noodles)

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce divided (same as the brown sugar)

1 teaspoon peanut, canola, vegetable or coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)

12 ounces dry spaghetti noodles

1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)

1 tablespoons minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce, more or less to taste

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro

Directions

For the cucumber sambal, toss all the ingredients together and chill until ready to serve (this can be made a couple hours or even 1-2 days ahead of time).

Preheat a grill to medium or medium-high heat. In a medium bowl, combine 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, oil and salt. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat the chicken with the sauce. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes.

While the chicken rests in the marinade, start a large pot of salted water to boil.

In a microwave-safe bowl or in a small saucepan, combine the broth, peanut butter, remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, vinegar, lime juice, remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce, ginger, chili garlic sauce and sesame oil. Heat, stirring often, until simmering and smooth. Off the heat (or after it is done microwaving), stir in the cilantro. Season with a dash of salt, more or less to taste.

Add the noodles to the boiling water and cook until al dente.

While the noodles cook, grill the chicken 4-5 minutes per side until cooked through (about 165 degrees on an instant-read thermometer). Remove to a plate and tent with foil.

When the noodles are finished cooking, reserve about 1/2 cup of the cooking water in a bowl and then drain the noodles. Dump the noodles into a bowl or on a serving platter and toss with the warm peanut sauce. Add a tablespoon or two of the hot pasta water if needed to loosen up the noodles and sauce a bit (especially helpful if the noodles have sat for 5-10 minutes before serving).

Serve the grilled chicken with the peanut noodles (you can even top the grilled chicken with the noodles) and a heaping scoop of the cucumber sambal.

Oh, Mel . . .thank you! Already loaded up the week with Mel meals and did my grocery shopping on Saturday to complete the list of ingredients I needed. Ugh . . .so much for being a responsible, organized, prepared wife and mom.

Made this tonight-WOW! It was delicious and will definitely be in my supper rotation, thanks so much for providing us with wonderful recipes, I make your recipes almost nightly and they are always delicious!

I made this for dinner tonight and I was amazed at how my young kids devoured it! I knew that I would enjoy it but I sort of thought it would be one of those meals that my kids wouldn’t eat much of. Boy was I wrong! There is a (small) plate in the fridge for my husband who had to work late. Thanks so much! This is a perfect quick dinner for hot summer days.

Hey Mel- this looks great. Quick question- do you know why every time you comment on one of your posts it appears in my feedly feed? It did that for google reader too! I wasn’t sure if you were aware of it, so wanted to bring it your attention! The post says something like Comment on (and then whatever the post is). xoxo

Hi Koko – that threw me for a minute so I did some digging and it looks like if you are receiving the comments you are subscribed to the comment feed (http://www.melskitchencafe.com/comments/feed/). Can you look in feedly and see if that’s the link you are subscribed to? From what I understand each reader can enable being subscribed to the comments feed for a blog or not and if they are, they will get updated comments in their feed reader (Feedly, in your case). It looks like you just want to be subscribed to: http://www.melskitchencafe.com/feed/

We made this last night and it was so good. A refreshing change for us since I haven’t made very many Asian inspired dishes before at home. My husband agreed and wanted to make sure I’d make it again! I printed the recipe and with no picture I diced up the veggies really small so it looked more like a relish…but tasted great…next time, now that i see your picture again, I’ll chop the size you have in your picture and serve it more like a side dish. Thanks for a great recipe…it turned out to be such a tasty, easy meal.

I made this and, wow, it was fantastic. I didn’t have the chili-garlic sauce so I subbed sriracha. My youngest is allergic to peanuts, so we subbed almond butter for the peanut butter. It turned out great, I can’t wait to make it again.

Oh my goodness! This was fantastic. I loved the noodles with the cucumber sambal- unbelievable. My husband really enjoyed this dish as well. Thanks for a great recipe that I will definately be making again.

I discovered your website a couple of months ago and now my weekly menu plan includes usually two to three new recipes from you. Many have been hits way out of the ballpark, some not so much (*cough* spaghetti pie), but this, this is just so amazingly delicious I just had to write and tell you! Will definitely go on my “to make again”list. Thanks!

Delicious! Because I am married to a meat, potatoes, and gravy guy, I was nervous about fixing this for dinner so I (seriously) made Salisbury steak and had on the back burner as a back up dinner. My husband loved this Asian recipe! Yeah! I watched in amazement as he finished the last of the cucumber samba. Ironically, he wasn’t so thrilled with the Salisbury steak recipe (no wonder, it was not yours, Mel). You rock, Mel, and my family loves you!

I just have to tell you your website is my go-to. I have two boys 12 and 14 and when I say I’m making something off your website for dinner they totally trust it. For good reason. This was one that the both didn’t get really excited about as I was making it. I wouldn’t even tell them what was in it because neither of them like cucumbers. They both LOVED it. They each had seconds (the big one had thirds). Thank you for helping me feel like I’m better in the kitchen than I really am.

This was really good. I do wish the chicken had a more flavorful marinade. I added some garlic to mine. I loved the fresh taste and texture the cucumber mixture added. Most of my family liked it (there’s always someone who’s unhappy with dinner ;), so I’m sure I’ll be making it again. Thanks Mel!

Mel this was so YUMMY! Please no hurt feelings but I was just expecting this meal to be average but I was pleasantly surprised! The cucumber sambal makes this meal over the top good. Thank you! This is going into our rotation, my husband and 3 year old gobbled it up.

Just letting you know I have made this no less than six times since you posted the recipe. This is one of our favorite summer meals. Also, I have made the cucumber sambal almost weekly. (We eat it kind of like a salad/pickle type thing to eat with our meal) Thanks for a great meal!

Is this the time to use the sugary processed peanut butter or the yummy natural stuff? I’m thinking with the added brown sugar the natural should be ok but I just want to make sure I make this dish to the fullest of it’s potential